Newsletter: Historic merger could involve one of Ohio’s most reliable employers

Trying to simplify things can get really complicated sometimes.

Since the days before Christmas, Honda and Nissan has discussed a merger deal that could create the world’s third-biggest automaker.

Unless, of course, a deal gets derailed, which is always possible.

The impetus behind such a deal isn’t that hard to see: EVs (electric vehicles) are being embraced, although more slowly than many observers expected, and China is emerging as an important player on the global automaking scene. Automakers will band together where they think that makes sense. Some analysts expect more deals, or attempts at them.

But this merger could be meaningful for Ohio.

Possible Honda-Nissan merger could mean opportunities at Ohio plants

FILE - Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida, left, Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, center, and Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe, right, leave after a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Credit: AP

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Credit: AP

What’s happening: Honda, Nissan (and Mitsubishi) are discussing a possible merger.

Why this matters: Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturing Association, sees opportunity in a merger. In general, Honda’s track record in Ohio since 1979 has been positive, he said.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic, Honda never laid off any full-time employees in Ohio.

“We think the possibility is exciting for Ohio,” Augsburger said. “One only has to look at the track record.”

Yes, however: Among the reasons for exploring a merger: Critically examining plants and jobs.

“The companies anticipate that optimizing their manufacturing plants and energy service facilities, combined with improved collaboration through the shared use of production lines, will result in a substantial improvement in capacity utilization leading to a decrease in fixed costs,” Honda said.

Complications? There are a few of those. Among them: Renault is a part-owner of Nissan.

Read the story.

Ohio Medicaid proposes work requirements for certain members; public comment ends today

FILE

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What’s happening: The Ohio Department of Medicaid is again eyeing work requirements for members who accessed Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act.

This has been a years-long attempt to require employment of people under an expansion of Medicaid. The rule would have members working at least 20 hours a week, or engaged in schooling, occupational training or undergoing treatment for a substance use to continue to qualify for Medicaid.

Who’s eligible: People eligible for the expansion currently include low-income adults up to 133% of the federal poverty level.

Read the story.

Boys & Girls Club to demolish West Dayton home, to build new facility

Boys & Girls Club of Dayton at 1828 W. Stewart St. in West Dayton. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

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What’s happening: Dayton’s only Boys & Girls Club is going to tear down its 57-year-old building on the West side to make way for a facility some believe will attract and serve twice as many youths.

Why now? The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton has raised about $10.6 million of an $18 million goal partly for the new facility, which is expected to get underway this summer with the demolition of its longtime home at 1828 W. Stewart St.

Read the story.

Longtime market with international selection, client base moves to new area location

Muhajer "Amir" Almosawi, owner of the Fresh Halal Market straightens the fresh fruits and vegetables, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. The market moved to a new location on Lyons Road in Washington Township. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF

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Market move: A longtime, family-owned market catering to a diverse customer base is embarking on a new chapter.

Fresh Halal Market, which had been located in Miamisburg for 25 years, recently relocated to 721 Lyons Road in Washington Twp. for better access and a newer storefront, according to owner Muhajer “Amir” Almosawi. Located next to Planet Fitness in the Washington Park shopping center, the market carries a variety of popular and sometimes hard-to-find grocery items from destinations around the globe.

Read the story.

Manufacturers and skilled workers: ‘If people go away, the future goes away.’

Staub Manufacturing Solutions metal fabricator Matt Adams assembles a part for the refrigeration industry Wednesday January 10, 2024. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: JIM NOELKER

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Credit: JIM NOELKER

What’s happening: Once again, concerns about finding and retaining skilled workers topped the Dayton Region of Manufacturers Association’s annual survey of what local manufacturers are thinking about.

Why this matters: Workers who do their jobs well are the lifeblood of any business.

“If people go away, then the future goes away,” Beth Graves, president of Kettering inspection equipment manufacturer, said in a recent interview.

Read the story.

Contact me: Thank you as always for reading. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com. You can also reach out at X, LinkedIn and on our Dayton Business page.

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